Tunneling machine



/April' 14, 1931-. M. R. sHEEN 1,800,361

TUNNELING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1928 2 Sheeis-Sheet l Inventor.'

April 14, 1931. M. R.sHEl-:N

TUNNELING MACHINE Filed June 1e, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17m/ent or; J/[L'Zton Roy Sheen/ j l tseoti Nr 'oi-ric MILTON' ROY SHEEN, kO11 .Pl-HLADELPIEEA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSGNOR TO TUNNELYMA- CHINE MANUFACTURING .AND- ENGINEERNG (.lOlVlilEAll'Y,A OF HILADELPHIA,

PENN- SYLVANI., A CORPGRLTION GFDELVJARE Tormentas MACHINE Application filed 'June is,

My invention relates-to the method and apparatus for advancing a' tunneling machine. My invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with tunneling ma- -chines which are forced through an excava tion made in the earth of about the same diameter as theV machine casing, in which practice the loose earth and especially thev moist earth adheres to the casing, thus rep sisting the advancement of the latter.

The object of my invention is to provide a method by Ywhich the casing may be loosened from the surrounding'earth, consisting of imparting a vibratory motion to the casing whichr will loosen the casing and allow it to be readily advanced; -a furtherr object of my invention is to provide a vibrator suitable for setting up vibrations in the tunneling machine casing; a still fur- 'ther object is to provide means for varying the frequency of the vibrations; and a still further object is to provide two or more vibrators for increasing` the amplitude of the vibrations and also for varying the speed of the vibratorsv relatively to each other.

Referring to the accompanying` drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of a tunneling machine, embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.

1, drawn on a smaller scale, illustrating more fully my novel method of advancing the machine; F ig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3&3, F ig. 1; and Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional View of the vibrator as on line 1 -4, Fig. l3, drawn onv a larger scale.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts, 10 represents the cylindrical casing of a tunneling machine now in general use, comprising a rotary cutter 12 located at-thek forward end of the casing.l Said cutter 12 is mounted in a bearing 13 yand rotated by motor 14.* Within the *casing 10 is a cam 16, shown in Fig. 2, which is rotated by a motor 17 relatively to the casing and adaptedV for pressing against the tunnel structure 18, formed byblocks 19 which are inserted successively as the cam is rotated to form the structure at the rear end ofthe lcasing 10. As the structure 18 is formed,

1928. Serial N'o. 285,797.

inthe earth for the advancement of the" machine. Y

Tunneling machines of this, or similar, character are advanced with great diliiculty when the su-rroundingearth adheres to the outer surface of the casing, and have devised the' present method and apparatus for relieving the casing from the resistance due tofthe surrounding earth and also for free- Aing the rear end of the casing -10 from`lthe ystructure 18 due to the pressurelexerted -by the cam 16 yagainst the blocks 19, which presk sure tendsto lexpand ,the structurev18 and 'slightly increase vthe vdiameter of the same.

My novel method of freeing the casing 10 from the resistance exerted by the-,earth surrounding' the casing and D the 'internal friction due lto therexpansion of .the struc-` ture 18. atthe rear end of the casing 10,l consists of setting up a vibratory motion in the casing, by which method the Vcasing'may bel readily advanced under any; conditions,

such asl moist earth orclay, which conditions heretofore oflered so-much resistance tothe outer surface of the casing that it was diflicult 4to yapply 'sufficient power back of the casing'togadvance it through ythe eXcavaandy28 adapted forithrowing the drum-4 out of balance. Said @weights are detachably secured to the drum bythe bolts 29 and `may be-readily replaced with weights of different sizes. l/Vhen the sha-ft 21 islrotated said imparted through the bearings v22 and 23 to the-casing 10, causingl the entire rcasing to vibrate. y i ,y Y

Theshaft 21 ofthe-vibrator is rotated by e5 weights will'l set up vibrations which will be L Eli ,unbalanced member rotatably mounted in a Variable speed electric motor of standard type. A sprocket Wheel 3l `is secured to the shaft 2l ci the vibrator and is rotated by a sprocket chain 32, driven by a sprocket Wheel 33, secured to the shaft 34 of' the motor 30.

A controller 85 1s provided for Varying the speed of rotation of the motor, whereby the pulsations of the Vibrator may be regu lated to suit the conditions under which the casing l() may be operated.

In large tunneling machines it is necessary to use two or more vibrators, due to the fact that a singln Vibrator cannot be increased in size and n' ght beyond certain limitations. Fig'. 3 shonsa second vibrator l0 of similar construction the vibrator 20. Said vibrator Ll() Vis-rctated by a sprocket chain 41 Jrom Ya sprocket Wheel 4t2 secured uponthe shaft oi' the same motor 30 which drives the Vibrator 20.

The Vibrators V20 and fl() may be driven at the sam-espeed orn rotation so that the pulsations of the vibrators Will be in unison,

or by changing one of the sprocket Wheels 33 or l2 -for a Wheel of a dierent diameter the Vibrators may be rotated at different speeds,

causing an irregular pulsation in the two Vibrators, which at certain periods will be inY unison and at intermediate periods Will oppose each other, the eilect being a powerful vibration when the vibrators are acting in unison.

Various changes may be made in the operation and construction from the above disclosure Without departing Vfrom my invention.

I claim Y l. A tunneling machine comprising a casing, a bearing secured upon the casing, an

saidbearing, and means for rotating said member to impart vibrations to thecasing.

2, A tunnelingmachme comprising a casi ing, a bearingsecured upon theV casing, a

shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, a

Weight eccentrically Vpositioned Vupon said shaft, and means for rotating the shaft.

3. A tunneling machine comprising a casing, a bearing secured. upon the casing, a i shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, a

drum secured upon said shaft, a Weight detachably secured upon said drum forming an unbalancedmember, and means for rotating' said shaft. l Y

4. A tunneling machinecomprising a casing, a plurality of Vibrators secured Within i the casing, and means for operating said Vibrators to impart to the casing Vibrations in unison at certain periods of rotation having greater amplitude than could be obtained by a single Vibrator. 'v Y 5. A tunneling machine comprising a casing, a plurality of unbalanced members rotatably mounted uponthe casing, said mem- MILTON ROY SHEEN. 

